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Austin’s reputation is built upon its self-proclaimed desire to keep the city weird. This Texas city is known for producing great music and for its part in the dot-com revolution of the 1990s. When thinking of golf resort havens in Texas you might first think of Houston or Dallas, but the Austin area is home to a number of world-class resorts that take advantage of the rolling hills and lakes surrounding the city.

Barton Creek Resort &amp; Spa

Dining after a round of golf at this Austin golf resort can mean either an authentic outdoor Texas barbecue or heading indoors to the Hill Country Dining Room. Golfing here means the Crenshaw Cliffside Course, the Fazio Foothills Course, the Fazio Canyons Course or the Palmer Lakeside Course. Those who enjoy Scottish links-style golf should immediately reserve tee times at the Crenshaw; experienced golfers who want to try their hand at the most difficult course can take their chances at Fazio Canyon, where they will contend with cliff-lined fairways and waterfalls. Non-golfers can play tennis on lighted courts, have a massage in the spa, rent a GPS device to head out for a day of geocaching or just relax in bed in front of the 50-inch TV sets.

Lakeway Resort and Spa

Twenty miles from downtown Austin is the Lakeway Resort and Spa. The 65-mile-long Lake Travis provides a backdrop for this resort, which is home to four different 18-hole championship courses. Flintrock Falls was designed Jack Nicklaus; the Live Oak course is named for the large trees that line the fairways. Those having a little trouble with their mechanics may want to check into the Academy of Golf Dynamics on the site before heading out to the courses. Specialty rooms include the large Mansfield Suite, which affords a sweeping view of the lake from the furnished balcony. The resort also offers a full-service spa, a marina and a kids’ pool with a water slide; adults can enjoy a pool with a swim-up bar.

Horseshoe Bay Resort

Less than an hour from downtown Austin is Horseshoe Bay Resort. Texas Meetings and Event Magazine named Horseshoe Bay the best golf resort in Texas in 2009. The three courses here were all designed by the legendary course architect Robert Trent Jones, and a new course from Jack Nicklaus was under construction in 2009. You can also practice your short game on the Whitewater putting course, which features miniature bunkers, fairways and water hazards. The Bayside Fitness Center allows you to enjoy a view of Lake LBJ as you work out. Other features include a full-service spa, 16 tennis courts and three pools. The lake affords opportunities for skiing, swimming and fishing. Grab yourself a horse from the equestrian center and enjoy the many scenic overlooks that populate the 4,000 acres on which this Austin-area resort sits.

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About the Author

Timothy Sexton's more than 10,000 articles have been published on sites ranging from USA Today to CareerAddict, from PopEater to TakeLessons.com. His writing has been referenced in books ranging from "The Reckless Life...of Marlon Brando" to "Brand New China: Advertising, Media and Commercial and from Scarface Nation to Incentive!"

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